Find that Motivating Factor

It is absolutely crucial that you find the right motivating factor as you embark on your weight loss journey. Without the right motivation you will get sidetracked and quit. It’s that simple. You may be able to survive on you initial burst of enthusiasm for a few weeks, but if you are like most yo-yo dieters you will be falling off the wagon eventually.

That’s where having that motivating factor comes into play. That factor is so powerful that it forces you to power through your weakest of moments. Like when you are thinking of eating just one cookie.. which almost always turns into 3, then 5, then the whole pack. Or when you say to yourself I’ll take today off and start again on Monday… but Monday becomes Tuesday and Tuesday becomes next week and next week becomes next month. Oh, and the drive-thru for dinner temptations. Don’t even get me started on that. Those are the moments when you need to dig deep. When you look at the situation and say to yourself, “No! That’s it. I will get through this!”

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I can’t even keep track of how many times I’ve given in to the temptations and have been weak. It sucks! Why? Because I’ve lost control. Losing control is not a good feeling, especially when you are on such a tough journey. Losing weight is very challenging. Weight loss is simple. Yet really difficult. To lose weight you need to eat less calories and exercise. Pretty simple concept. Sticking to it is the hard part. That’s why you need the motivation to get you through it.

So what’s your motivation? Mine? Well.. I have several. I am battling the potential of self inducing diabetes. I want to win this battle. I want to be around for my daughter and be a positive role model. I want to be able to say that I finally gained control of myself. I want to prove to myself that I am strong enough to accomplish this ( I know I am but the proof is in the weight loss). I want to prove the haters wrong. And then I have tons of tiny little motivating factors that are keeping me going. Some are more special than others, but all of them help.

So, I repeat, what’s your motivating factor?

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About the Author

My name is Israel Lagares. I used to be the kind of guy that was always in shape, but over the last few years I've fallen off tremendously. This site is my final attempt to get back into shape. So far I've lost 70.4 lbs. Check out my weight loss chart, weight loss videos and progress pics. Follow my journey, those of others, and read our thoughts on various health topics. Share your thoughts, experience, and journey here on FMU.

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I also think that it is important to have two types of motivation – “away from” and “towards”. As an example, I guess your “away from” motivation might be “avoiding diabetes”. But that motivation might not be enough to get you to where you want to be (i.e. it might not take as significant a lifestyle change you’re implementing in order to avoid diabetes)…and so, without “towards” motivation, you could lose momentum when you reach that first goal.

That’s where your “towards” motivation steps in. Things like being a positive role model are “towards” motivations, I think.

I’m agreeing with you…just putting things into categories. What do you think?

Great post Is! Finding your motivating factor(s) is so important to losing weight and keeping it off. Whenever, I forget why I am losing weight, I start gaining. This happens much more than I’d like it to.

My motivating factors:

1. My health.
2. Be a role model to my patients and family.
3. To wear size 30 waist pants.
4. To compete in MMA. (j/k)

Your absolutely right! Weight & fat loss is simple really, when you know how, but not always easy. The motivation is essential to follow through long term.

You have to have a big enough reason, a big enough reason why! Reasons come first, answers come second. When you have a big enough reason why you can do ANYTHING!

When a person has and knows their reason why they will always find a way, regardless of the odds they face and if the way isn’t clear then they make a way. A person with a big enough reason why, or motive, never gives up and doesn’t accept the excuses that most do, or give into the temptations that most surcumb to!

I love how you want to set a good example for your daughter. Keep up the good work my man!

I feel you on that man!! It’s so easy to fall off track if you’re not thinking of what motivates you and keep going. This is an uphill battle; it’s so much easier to just roll back down the hill. But when you keep your eyes set on the top of that hill, and you think about what will be there waiting for you once you get there, you will keep on fighting!! We need to remind ourselves everyday why we’re doing this, and what we’re fighting for!! Write in your journals, post it on your screen savers, send yourself emails, write um on sticky notes and put um on your frigerators, in your cars, at your desks, in your draws, at your lockers, in your lunch rooms, everywhere you go!!! Who cares what people think or say!! Who cares about there jokes!!! Don’t even say a word in response to those naysayers!!! Let them laugh all they want!! Because guess what!! In the end, you’re gonna be the one’s laughing!!! And there gonna be asking how in the world you did it….LOL!!!

I’ve recently been trying to get back on the wagon myself. I had stopped exercising like I should all winter long. Then I recently bought a weight set and bench and put them in a room we specially made to be a work-out room. But it’s hard. There are so many things to do instead of exercising for healdh and weight loss – playing with the kids, blogging, etc. You have to just “break away” and go do it. I need to do that right now!

Cool post. Finding that motivating factor is definitely a key. Taking advantage of that moment, that catalyst and not letting it pass is also important. It’s often really hard to stay constantly motivated. I find it like a mini roller coaster. If I go down too far I get so disgusted I get motivated all over again. Thanks for the ideas and motivation. It helps.

Finding that motivation is one of the hardest things to do for most people. This will make or break you from reaching your goals. You must find your personal motivation and always refer back to it when times get tough. When I was overweight my personal motivation was to just to fit back into my old jeans.

Everyone has their own personal motivation you just have to find yours. When you do this you have a better change to reach your goals.

I would say I live a healthy lifestyle to be healthy, however my motivator is looking good, beign competitive in the gym and staying away form the old ‘fat’ me. Also some external motivation such as movies and music – get me pumped!!

If you slack somewhat, that’s fine but how often that happens is totally up to you and this will determine what gains you make. Sure you have to be determined to reach your goals but how will you use that determination if you don’t have the discipline to stick to what you know will bring you results.